The fastest moving object humans have ever built is set to experience hellish temperatures
Why it matters: The Parker Solar Probe is on an ambitious mission to study the origins of the solar wind – the constant stream of charged particles flowing outward from the sun. Despite over half a century of scientific investigation since its discovery in the 1960s, the phenomenon's precise source within the corona remains unknown.
290 satellites will beam down Internet to Europeans by the end of this decade
Why it matters: After two years of negotiations with the private sector, the European Union has signed a deal to develop and operate a homegrown alternative to satellite Internet connectivity solutions like Elon Musk's Starlink and Amazon's Project Kuiper. While smaller in scale, the IRIS² constellation is expected to spark a competitive web of suppliers for space technologies in Europe.
What just happened? For those following the development of the James Webb Space Telescope, it felt like it took forever to launch. However, it was worth the wait. The JWST provides views of light dating back to the Cosmic Dawn. It is also helpful in studying bodies closer to home.